The Sun smiles down at the little infant that lay sleeping in his crib. A yellow blanket was lazily wrapped around the sleeping babe and the little rise and fall of the small chest raised gooseflesh on the man’s dark arms. A beautiful and strong boy, the long-awaited Sun was finally born.
His son is THE Sun. A smile broadened on the man’s face at the joke, he had been practicing every day since he found out the empress was with child. He cried when his beautiful Arriline* was to bear his child, he still remembers the joy he felt then, it pales in comparison to what he feels now. His beautiful Arriline. His smile faltered at the thought.
The empress is very weak and sick now that she has given birth. The empress was so full of life just the other day but now she lay fighting for her life. When the empress started to show signs in the pregnancy that the child might have the first Sun’s power the Emperor had every scholar and mage available study every text that mentioned the Sun’s power.
It had been many generations of powerless Sun’s so they had to dig deep into the old libraries to find what they were looking for. What the scholars had found in the countries histories was that any woman that brought the Sun into the world usually died. The strain on their mortal bodies bringing a god-like being into existence simply could not handle it and they would die shortly after the child was born. The Emperor prayed to every god he could think of to not let his love die. Medical knowledge has advanced since those times and it was common for an Emperor back then to take a mistress and make her bear the Sun instead of the empress.
These thoughts plagued his mind as he placed his massive hand on the small babe who let out a little coo at the touch. The babe’s dark skin contrasted with the white cloth diaper that was wrapped around his little waist. The baby’s skin was lighter than the man’s but only by a little, it wasn’t even close to being as light as the empress’s tanned skin. You might not have known the babe was the legendary Sun save for the golden hair in little curls that adorned his head like the crown he would one-day wear. As well as his golden eyes. Completely different from the man and his wife’s terran-like eyes.
The Emperor sat carefully in the plush chair which groaned in protest of the man’s large stature. The chair had been placed next to the babe’s crib for the nursemaids and the nannies that constantly kept watch. Placing his head in his hand, watching the babe through the thick decorative bars, the man placed his heavy crown on the tile floor with a soft clink. Letting a sigh escape his full dark lips. He ran a hand through his black beard and watched the babe twitch in his sleep.
While he was glad to have his son, he was also saddened by the burden that would fall onto his little shoulders one day. The boy was only 3 days old but reports of assassins stirring were already flooding in. Not to mention that the Moon should be born soon.
His best friend and closest advisor Hadden**, who came from the long line of Moons, was having a child soon. That boy would be the Moon. A Moon does not exist without the light of the Sun so the absence of the Sun’s power was felt within the Moon household strongly.
When the Empress and the Lady of the Moon’s had both become pregnant within a few days of each other everyone in the lands held their breath. Wondering if the Sun and Moon were returning. It had happened in the past, that the heirs of both houses were born close together but were not the fabled Sun and Moon.
The emperor stood and released the clasps that held his cape. The fur hit the ground with a heavy thud that slightly echoed in the small but tall room. Trying to ease the heavy burden which already weighed on his broad shoulders. He stepped over to the barred window and pushed the heavy and dark drapes aside, even though the prince’s room was high up and away from the other towers, you couldn’t be too careful. Orange and red light spilled into the large room with the absence of the curtain. High vaulted ceilings that were painted blue with clouds to mimic the sky, the walls are matching the blue of the ceiling then melt into a green mural of grass. As if in the confines of his room the prince will still be out in the rolling plains of the empire. The room only held the crib and chair in the center, no other furniture was present.
Letting the drapes fall back into place, bringing sudden darkness to the room. The Emperor’s heavy footsteps which were softened by his boots, sounded as he walked back to the babe. He bent far down and softly kissed his son’s head, the boy whimpered at the sudden contact and shuffled slightly until he found a comfortable spot again. The man stroked his child’s head lightly as to not disturb him again. Then with a heavy sigh, he picked up his crown and placed it back on his head of short raven curls. Picking up his cloak and snapping it back into place. The Sun pushed open the doors to the nursery. Once the Emperor had left the door frame, 8 heavily armed guards as well as 3 nannies poured into the room and took their predetermined positions in the prince’s room.
The Emperor strode down the hall thinking of visiting the empress when his stomach dropped. He saw the doctor that had been tasked with the Empress’s health and recovery standing in the hall, his eyes downcast and his face troubled.
The man who has just seen his loving son now steeled himself holding his head high and walk up to the doctor. Once their eyes met the emperor had to place his hand on the wall to keep from falling over. The doctor tried to help the man but the Sun held out his hand and shook his head. “I am sorry your Majesty.” was all the doctor could whisper. The most powerful man in the empire felt so powerless. She was gone. “She fought until the very end but it was too much for her body.” The Empress had passed not even 20 minutes earlier. The broken and sad man stood there for a long while. Eventually, the doctor excused himself and left, but the man didn’t even register it.
“Your Majesty!” Called a voice from behind along with hurried footsteps. The man was shaken from his misery and took a deep, shaky breath and straightened his back, he is the emperor, he couldn’t afford to be a grieving mess right now. The emperor turned to see the pale face of one of the Stars.
The Stars were loyal to the Moon and then the emperor, they were the only ones allowed to have such privilege as the Stars are only visible at night when the Moon is out and allows them to shine. So for one of the Stars to be sent to the emperor that means something terrible must have happened.
“What is it?” the emperor’s voice thick with the emotions he is trying to bury.
“Your Majesty, there has been an attack.” The Star says breathlessly. Fear gripped the man again
“My son?” His words came out strangled, he had just seen his son not that long ago. The man didn’t think he could survive today if something had happened to his son. The Star shook his head
“No Your Majesty, at the Moon Manor.” The emperor straightened and looked at the Star in shock. The Moon and Stars were the empires under belly connections. The Moon was in charge of all of the dark corners of the empire. Nothing happened without the Moon knowing about it. How could an attack have been missed!
“Let us go! Prepare the horses!” The emperor commanded and his guard fell into place behind him. The Sun was sure they had been there while he was frozen in place, and that thought embarrassed him a little. He had never once hesitated in all of his 23 years as emperor. He could not afford to hesitate any longer. Before long he had mounted his mare and was riding full speed to the Moon Manor. Praying that his friend was alright.
* Empress Arriline (Air-ri-line)
** Duke and Lord Moon Hadden (Hay-den)
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